title: Zinc administration modulates radiation-induced oxidative injury in lens of rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant role of zinc (Zn) against radiation-induced cataract in the rat lens after total cranial irradiation with a single 5 Gray (Gy) dose of gamma irradiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the experiment. The control group did not receive Zn or irradiation but received 1-ml saline orally plus sham-irradiation. The irradiation (IR) group received 5 Gy gamma irradiation to the total cranium as a single dose plus 0.1 ml physiological saline intraperitoneally. The IR plus Zn group received irradiation to total cranium plus 10 mg/kg/day Zn intraperitoneally. Biochemical parameters measured in rat lenses were carried out using spectrophotometric techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lens total (enzymatic plus non-enzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), glutathione reductase (GRD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities significantly increased in the IR plus Zn groups when compared with the IR group. However, TSSA, GRD and GST activities were significantly lower in the IR group when compared with the control group. Lens non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA) in the IR plus Zn group was significantly increased compared to that of the IR group. Lens xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in the IR group significantly increased compared to that of both the control and IR plus Zn groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zn has clear antioxidant properties and prevented oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals generated by ionizing radiation in rat lenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Gaziantep University, Medical School, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyithan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taysi
authors.forename: Seydi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okumus
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akyuz
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orkmez
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarakcioglu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adli
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; irradiation; lens; oxidative stress; zinc